Socket reducer



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' July 1, 3 w A. FINNEGYAN SOCKET REDUCER Filed May 29, 1929 1 pole, or otherrelatively slender article.

Patented July 1, 1930 WILFRED a. rrnnnenrr, oafmn oajmma' 1 SOCKET Between Application filedMay 29, w

This invention relates to a'holder adapted to be placed on a flat support and provided with a socket in which one end of an upright standard or member may be inserted, the

5 holder beingadapted'to support the standard perpendicular to the support.

The invention is embodied in a socket reducer adapted to be used with a holder characterized as above stated, in supporting a standard or member which is smaller than one adapted to be inserted in the holder socket, and permittinga holder having a socket adapted to support arelativelylarge standard, such as-the' trunk of a Christmas tree,

to support a smaller standard, such as a flag Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,- V Figure 1 is a perspective iew of a socket reducer embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a holder having, a socket adapted to receive the reducer.

Figure 3 shows the holder and reducer in section and assembled, and a slende'rstandard laterally supported by the reducer.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures. V

The holder shown by Figurei2, embodies the invention disclosed by Patent No.

1,7 06,223, dated March 19,1929, andis composed of arms assembled and interlocked to form a holder adapted to have an extended bearing on a flat support, and including a polygonalcentral socket 12, which may receive one end of an upright or standard to be supported laterally by the socket. The socket is open from end toend .so that a standard such as the trunk vof a'Christmas tree inserted in the socket bears on a floor 17 supporting the holder and sustaining the downward end thrust of the standard.

For convenience of description, I call the N socket 12 a primary socket, to distinguish it from the reducer socket. I

My improved reducer comprises a polygonal bushing 13, adapted to enter the primary socket 12, and having a plurality of fiat side portions adapted to conform to the flat sides of the socket 12, and a plurality of resilient 1929. Sea N eeasaex tongues collectively forming a reduced socket or smaller size than the bushlng, and adapted to laterally support a relatively 7, small standard 14, which may be a flag pole or other, article. The bushing and tongues are v a .mtegraliwith each ther andfformed from a inner tongues 16,1projecting from the opposite end of the bushing, each tongue being formed on a fiat s1de port on of the bushing. I :The freeends oi the tongues are adapted to bear on spacedapart-portions onzones of the standard 14, so that the latter is firmly supported laterally at points above and within the holder. The lower end of thestandard may bear on a floor, or other flat support 17, as shown by Figure, 3.. "Each group of tongues constitutes asocket port-ion adapted to yieldingly grasp the standard 14, the two groups cooperating to maintain the standard 1% in a vertical position and spaced inwardly from the walls of the socket 12.

The reducer is preferably so proportioned that the tongues 16 are spaced somewhat above the support, and are maintained at a predetermined height out of contact there with to prevent interference by the support with free movement of said tongues by means with which the reducer is provided, for limiting its insertion into the socket 12, said means being preferably embodied in shoulders 18, formed on the tongues 15, and adapted to bear on the holder, as shown by Figure 3.

In forming the bushing, I preferably provide it withtwo free ends, normally sprung a apart by the resilience of the'sheet metal,so that said ends are separated by an opening or slot '19, as shown by Figure 1. The bush.- ing is therefore adapted to be compressed or contracted by itsinsertion in the socket 12,. so that its eifortto expand causes its external surfaces to bear closely on the sides of the socket 12.

I claim:

1. A socket re ducer composed of resilient f sheet material, and including an openended polygonal bushing having a plurality of flat side portions adapted to bear on the Walls of a polygonal primary socket in a holder which 5 is formed to laterally support a relatively large standard, a plurality of resilient outer tongues projecting upwardly from one end of the bushing, and a plurality of resilient inverted inner tongues projecting downwardly from the opposite end of the bush ing, said tongues being formed on the fiat side portions-of the bushing and inclined inwardly therefrom, so that thetongues' col lectively' form two reduced vspaced apart a socket portions adapted to yieldingly grasp 35 signature.

spaced apart zones of a smaller standard, and maintain the latter spaced inwardly from the walls of said primary socket.

2. A socket reducer as specified by claim 1, means being provided for limiting downward movement of the bushing into the, primary socket and maintaining the free ends of the inner tongues above the bottom of the primary socket, 'so that movement of said 2 free ends is not impeded by a support on v which the holder rests. r

3. A socket reducer as specified by claim 1, two of said side portions being normally spaced apart by an opening at one corner of the bushing and between adjacent tongues to permit the contraction of the bushing by the wall of a primary socket in which it is inserted. r V

I In testimony whereof I-have aflixed my WILFRED A. FINNEGAN. 

